Soul Surfer Day.

Ri's first time up on the surf board! (2009)

My daughter Mariah loves the beach, surfing, and all things related. She's a surfer at heart, minus the 6 years her parents tortured her with a relocation to Colorado. A place, where just in case you are the least bit uncertain, there are NO beaches. What was a surfer girl to do? Well, if you are my daughter, you insist on an ocean for every family vacation, and then you spend as much time as possible in it, near it, and in relative proximity to it. You learn to surf no matter the distance, and when God opens the door for you to live near it again you cease the moment, start surf lessons, and make plans for Jr. Lifeguards next summer.

Where there's a will there's a way! Ri snow-surfing in our backyard in Colorado.

Mariah has loved Bethany Hamilton's story from very early on. We have watched the first documentary more times than I can count.

When the movie Soul Surfer came out we had hoped to see it in the theaters, but with two small kids in the house seeing any movie in a theater setting is still a bit impossible. Instead, we opted for a movie party at Grandpa & Grandma's house. My plan was simple, I would buy Soul Surfer on DVD and Daddy would make his infamous Mahi Mahi fish tacos. We would spend the evening watching the movie and enjoying each other's company.

God just happened to turn this simple plan into something better than seeing the movie in the theaters, better than being able to watch it at Papa and Grandma's beach house, better than eating Daddy's delicious fish tacos. He took it to a level all of His own. . .

I went on Facebook on Friday and read Bethany's fan page post, she'd be signing in downtown Huntington Beach. What?! This was so cool I was in downtown HB and the Jack's Girls' Store where she was signing was with in walking distance. So the girls and I set out. Early. We didn't want to miss it!

We were the third group in line for the signing, we waited just a little bit for her to arrive. I told my girls, "I think I'm more excited than you." They assured me that was absolutely impossible.

However, it was one of those moments in life when you (as a Mom) get to watch your kids do something so cool and exciting, the thrill of it! Not to mention, the joy of the girls meeting someone who has taken a devastating incident in life and allowed God to use her life through it. I hope Bethany knows how grateful we are that she's let God's light shine through her. It is beautiful to watch her surf, but it is most beautiful to see her give the credit for all she does right back to God. She's inspiring, admirable, and just an overall sweet girl.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

To put a cherry on top of the whole day, we walked around the downtown area and headed over to the Rip Curl store. The girls stood in line to play the "Wheel of Misfortune." They each spun the wheel, where among many cool prizes was whip cream pie on your head and brushing your teeth with wasabi. The whole time we were in line I was thinking this is great, I'm going to have to brush my teeth with wasabi. Of course, as the family martyr ;o) I have to be willing to take one for the team at all turns. Each of them spun the wheel and won. . . something cool. Ri got a hat which she was really hoping for and Shayli won a shirt. I won too! I didn't have to brush my teeth with wasabi. Ding-a-ding-a-ding, yup that was my prize, well that, and the sheer joy thing I mentioned earlier.

Seriously, God throws the best Soul Surfer movie parties eva!!!